eNNOUNCER April 2017
AAPT News
New AAPT Services Portal
This spring AAPT will be switching its AAPT Services Portal to a new platform. The change will simplify operations such as signing up for membership, renewing your membership, registering for national meetings, making purchases with the Physics Store, updating your account information, and, of course, donating to AAPT. This new portal has been built to work on all platforms (mobile, tablet, or desktop). Look for more information from AAPT in the weeks to come.
2017 Winter Meeting Highlights
For a summary of the events at the 2017 Winter Meeting, visit our website and review the meeting highlights.
First AAPT/ALPhA Awardees Named
The AAPT/ALPhA Award recognizes outstanding work in the development of an advanced laboratory apparatus/experiment by an undergraduate physics student at his/her home institution within the greater United States. The AAPT/ALPhA Award Committee has announced the first recipients of the award - Brandon Thacker, California State University, Chico (2015), and Ryan Scott, Rochester Institute of Technology (2016). TeachSpin is currently funding the award. Read more.
2017 Summer Meeting
Abstracts
Post-deadline abstracts will be accepted until May 11 for the 2017 AAPT Summer Meeting in Cincinnati.
This is a great opportunity to become an active participant in the summer meeting, by showcasing your teaching methods and research while interacting with like-minded colleagues.
All post-deadline abstracts will be scheduled on Wednesday, July 26 in the last session of the day. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity. Click here to submit your abstract today!
Hotel
The room block for the summer meeting is now open. AAPT is offering discounted rates at the Cincinnati Marriott River Center and the Embassy Suites Cincinnati River Center. Both hotels are adjacent to the RiverCenter Convention Center, which is the location of the summer meeting. Please click here for more information or to make your reservation.
Exhibits/Sponsorship
Exhibit and sponsorship participation at AAPT National Meetings can be one of the best marketing tools you ever use - it's certainly one of the most cost effective options for generating new leads, interacting with current customers and introducing new products or services. Please click here for details.
2017 Summer Meeting Awardees
John C. Brown Named as Recipient of the 2017 Klopsteg Memorial Lecture Award
The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today that John C. Brown, University of Glasgow Scotland, School of Physics and Astronomy, is the 2017 recipient of the Klopsteg Memorial Lecture Award.
Read more.
2017 Millikan Medal Awarded to Kenneth Heller
AAPT has announced that Kenneth Heller will receive the Robert A. Millikan Medal during the 2017 Summer Meeting in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Read more.
Cindy Schwarz to Receive the AAPT 2017 Halliday and Resnick Award
The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today that Cindy Schwarz will receive the 2017 David Halliday and Robert Resnick Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Physics Teaching.
Read more.
J. Mark Schober to Receive 2017 Paul W. Zitzewitz Excellence in K-12 Teaching Award
The American Association of Physics Teachers (AAPT) announced today that the 2017 Paul Zitzewitz Excellence in K-12 Physics Teaching Award winner is J. Mark Schober, a science teacher at Trinity School in New York City.
Read more.
Enter the 2017 AAPT Apparatus Competition
The AAPT Apparatus Competition is held each year at the Summer Meeting, this year in Cincinnati. There are two main categories, Low Cost and Unlimited. Pasco has again graciously sponsored the prizes, $1000 for First Place. The Application Deadline is June 15, 2017. Please consider entering one or more of your Physics Apparatus in the competition. If interested, download the rules and entry form.
Travel Grants Available for the 2017 Summer Meeting
Maybe you've been invited to present at AAPT's 2017 Summer Meeting. Or, perhaps you have a great idea for a contributed talk or poster or want to lead a workshop. If funding is holding you back, AAPT might be able to help. There are limited funds (awards range from $200 to $1200 with a total of $5000 for all awards) to help AAPT members attend the 2017 Summer Meeting in Cincinnati to make a presentation. In addition, the AAPT Board of Directors approved an additional $10,000 for grants to support travel for high school and two year college faculty who are from underrepresented groups and/or from institutions whose students are predominantly underrepresented. The application is now available for both of these grant opportunities. The deadline for applications is May 15th, so please submit your application and post deadline abstract if you didn't meet the regular abstract deadline. Please click here for more information.
Newly Elected AAPT Board of Directors Officers Begin Service
With the Presidential Transfer ceremony and the end of the 2017 Winter Meeting in Atlanta, the AAPT Board of Directors sees many changes with members of the Presidential chain rotating and newly elected officers taking on their new positions. Janelle Bailey transferred the President's gavel to George A. Amann from Hyde Park, NY. Gordon P. Ramsey, Loyola University-Chicago, became President-Elect and Mel Sabella, Chicago State University, stepped into his new role as Vice President. Daniel Crowe, Loudoun Academy of Science, began his Board term as the At Large High School Representative. David Sturm, University of Maine was elected by the Section Representatives to serve in the role of Vice Chair of Section Representatives as his predecessor, Dyan Jones, Mercyhurst University, rotated into the role of Chair of the Section Representatives.
Change to By-Laws: Membership Category Title Change
At its meeting in February, the AAPT Board of Directors passed a second and final motion that the term "regular member" be changed to "professional member" in Section 3.01 of the By-Laws and any subsequent reference to regular member therein. This change reflects the professional identification and commitment of members to our organization, describing AAPT membership in a way that idealizes how a person would wish to describe themselves in their professional identification.
Dependent Care Grants
AAPT has small grants up to $400 available for AAPT national meeting attendees who are bringing small children to a national meeting or who incur extra expenses in leaving their children at home (i.e., extra daycare or babysitting services) in order to attend a national meeting. In addition, small grants up to $400 are available to national meeting attendees who are responsible for dependent care (elderly parents, adult children with disabilities, etc) or need assistance at the meeting because of a disability. Applications must be received byJune 9, 2017 to be considered. Please click here for more information and an application.
AAPT Seeks Volunteers to Direct AAPT High School Contests
AAPT seeks volunteers to apply for directors of two of AAPT's high school contests: PhysicsBowl and the US Physics Team. The PhysicsBowl Academic Coordinator provides general oversight of the competition and has the responsibility for preparing the yearly exam. We anticipate that the individual selected for the PhysicsBowl Academic Coordinator position will start later this year. The U.S. Physics Team Academic Director position provides general oversight of the U.S. competition including recruiting and training team coaches, preparing and grading exams, training of the U.S. Physics Team during training camp, and traveling with the Team to the International Physics Olympiad. We anticipate that the individual selected will serve as co-director during the 2017-18 year and transition to director in Fall 2018. Click here for more information.
eAlliances: Uniting Isolated Women Physicists and Astronomers - Registration site now LIVE!
Everyone needs mentors, but how do you find other women physicists who understand your experience-- as the only Hispanic in the department, the only PER researcher, the only full-time physicist at your TYC, the only one who brings a newborn in a sling to department meetings? Join eAlliances, an NSF-sponsored faculty development project for women physics faculty, and become part of a peer-mentoring alliance with other women who share many of your same experiences.
Why me?
• Connect with other women physicists and astronomers
• Get and give advice and affirmation
• Gather a variety of insights to help you address professional issues
• Address work-life balance issues
• Receive encouragement and support in achieving your goals
This is professional development for your career stage: whether you are teaching your first or hundredth section of intro physics; mentoring your first or hundredth research associate; or leading your first or hundredth committee meeting. Someone else has a similar experience and can share insights, frustrations, and successes.
To join: Register at eAlliances.aapt.org
The AAPT/APS Joint Task Force on Undergraduate Physics Programs has released two reports about preparing physics students for diverse careers
Phys21: Preparing Physics Students for 21st Century Careers report provides guidance for physicists considering revising the undergraduate curriculum to improve the education of a diverse student population. The report includes recommendations on content, pedagogy, professional skills, and student engagement and documentable student outcomes.
The Phys21 Supplement summarizes the information used to prepare the Phys21 Report. The sources include reports authored by professional societies, business and economic development groups, educational institutions, and professional consulting organizations
The reports, along with other information about the Joint Task Force on Undergraduate Physics Programs, are available at www.compadre.org/jtupp
AAPT Career Center Offers FREE Postings
The AAPT Career Center offers FREE postings to employers recruiting seasonal interns. Locate the best fit for your organization by reaching the future of the science community - the AAPT membership, as well as the members and student members of the American Physical Society (APS Physics), AVS Science and Technology, and the Society of Physics Students and Sigma Pi Sigma.
Get the word out! Your posting will also appear on the Physics Today Jobs site, which when combined with the job sites of the organizations mentioned above forms the ultimate online science, engineering, and computing career network, ensuring maximum relevant visibility for your internship.
Visit jobs.aapt.org to get started.
Computational Physics at AAPT Section Meetings
The Partnership for the Integration of Computation into Undergraduate Physics (PICUP) has a project for fostering faculty communities to develop computational integration at a local level. We invite any AAPT section with faculty interested in exploring computational integration into their courses to express its interest (if it has not already done so) in developing such a community. Any section member who feels that local faculty might have an interest in including computation in their courses may convey this interest. The venue for doing so is the following survey. This process begins by hosting an introductory workshop (e.g. at a regular section meeting) whose objectives are:
- to describe a strategy for introducing computation in courses and illustrative materials suggesting how to do so;
- to help participants envision their own computational educational materials;
- to formulate individual plans for each to implement these designs as materials in at least one of their upcoming courses; and
- to introduce them to a local support network to use for mutual collaboration in and support for their implementation efforts after the workshop.
We look forward to hearing from you.
AAPT Programs
PTRA program is looking for experienced teachers to add to their cadre of workshop leaders across the country
The Physics Teaching Resource Agent (PTRA) program is looking for experienced teachers to add to their cadre of workshop leaders across the country. One strength of the AAPT/PTRA program lies in the annual training that focuses on updates in pedagogy, technology, and content. This professional development for the leaders allows the participants to become certified in specific content areas that they may then offer to peers in their own district or state.
PTRA workshops are scheduled for a number of locations during 2017, visit www.aaptptra.com and look under the Professional Development tab for a current listing. You can also find information on prior workshops, which may be useful in requesting a workshop for your district or section meeting. Shorter descriptions of upcoming workshops can be found at aapt.org/PTRA
If you are interested in engaging students in activities designed to help them understand concepts related to quantum physics, check out the 2017 summer workshops. These workshops are based on resources provided by the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics and will deepen your own understanding of GPS, computer security, wave particle duality, black holes, and dark matter. The workshop leaders have been trained by the Perimeter Institute and prior workshops have been tremendously successful and well attended. Space is limited.
The PTRA 2017 Summer Leadership Institute will be held before the AAPT Summer Conference in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dates for the institute are July 19-22, 2017. Physics teachers who are current PTRAs or experienced master teachers who would like to be a PTRA Workshop Leader may apply by filling out the link at www.surveymonkey.com There are limited $1000 scholarships available to defray expenses for new PTRA applicants.
For more information regarding the institute or PTRA requirements visit aaptptra.com/leadership-institutes or you may contact PTRA Director Karen Jo Matsler karen@aaptptra.com or PTRA Oversight Committee Chair Pat Callahan ptcallahan3537@gmail.com
2017 High School Physics Photo Contest
The 2017 contest registration opened March 1, and will close May 15. The contest is open to high school students in grades 9-12. Teachers register on the AAPT website and receive a confirmation code that their students can use to submit their entries (essay and photo). Photos may be entered in either the Natural photo or Contrived photo category. The top 100 entries will be displayed and judged during the 2017 Summer Meeting in Cincinnati, OH. Learn more!
AAPT Membership
AAPT Member Spotlight
Caroline Hall
Managing Editor, AAPT/ComPADRE Digital Library, Columbus, OH
Read more
Call for Award Nominations
The AAPT Awards Committee invites nominations for all of AAPT awards, citations, and medals. We are particularly interested in nominations for AAPT Fellows and for the Homer L. Dodge Citation for Distinguished Service to AAPT.
Nominate a Deserving Colleague for a Harold & Charlotte Mae Fuller Fund Membership
AAPT is committed to increasing the effectiveness of Physics education around the world. Through a grant supported by Harold Q & Charlotte Mae Fuller Fund, the Association provides a number of fully-funded, two-year memberships to physics teachers in developing countries. The deadline is May 31st. If you know an eligible physics teacher who would benefit from this support, submit your nomination today!
Yamani Membership Grants for Students and Early-Career Professionals
Each year, through the Hashim A Yamani Fund, AAPT awards several 2-year memberships to students or early-career professionals who are either planning to teach or already teaching physics in their native country. Citizens of any country are eligible, with priority given to citizens of developing countries. If your students are planning to become a teacher, or have recently graduated and started teaching, tell them to apply for a Yamani Membership today! Deadline: July 1.
In the News
EdX is launching a new MOOC
EdX is launching a new MOOC entitled "Quantum Mechanics For Everyone" which uses the Feynman methodology for teaching quantum mechanics with a minimum of math. It has been developed over the past 3 years to include significant high-tech elements including computer-based tutorials and simulations, along with much multimedia content. The material covered starts from the basics but rapidly is able to deal with complex current topics including Bell's theorem, delayed choice, and interaction free measurements. It is accessible to everyone who has completed the high school algebra course, as the most complex math involves square roots and cosines. The launch date is April 18, 2017.
The course will run for two years to be taken at the student's own pace after the guided four week initial launch. Read more
STEM Classroom to Career: Opportunities to Close the Gap
Thursday, 20 April
9 PM ET (Washington, DC)
During this webinar, join Michael Conn of the Student Research Foundation (SRF) to look at findings from a nationwide survey of high-school students about their aspirations toward STEM career and educational paths. Learn as well as about ways to encourage students to pursue STEM in general, and physics in particular. Data from student respondents, and from related research, suggests that equity efforts can strategically increase the STEM workforce and help students realize their full potential. Senior researcher, Patrick Mulvey, of the America Institute of Physics, will also provide additional information about key findings regarding persistence in physics education through graduate school.
Register for this webinar here
FREE Webinar on International Job Searches
Applying for a job in one country while completing your education and training in another can be challenging, but it CAN be done with success! Learn specific strategies to find jobs in another country while one is abroad and how to leverage your networks in-country to access opportunities, especially those that are hidden. Special emphasis will be placed on establishing your reputation as a leader in your field with professionals in the country or region in which you wish to work. Join us for this free event, being held on April 13 at 2PM ET and co-sponsored by AAPT.
AAPT wants you to know about a new resource created by AIP that’s freely available: FYI This Week.
Each edition will include a look at the week ahead in science policy and a review of the week just passed. It will also list upcoming events, opportunities to get engaged, and links to articles from other publications. FYI has been a trusted resource for 25 years, but this new weekly edition will allow you to keep up-to-date with policy issues affecting science.
Go to www.aip.org/fyi to see samples of the email and web content, and subscribe to this free service by clicking on the green sign up button.
Short Course on Nuclear Weapon and Related Security Issues
A popular technical workshop is making a repeat performance April 21 - 22. International experts will give the background to understand issues related to nuclear weapons and security more completely. The organizers are Pierce Corden (AAAS), Tony Fainberg (former DHS), David Hafemeister (CalPoly), Allison Macfarlane (GWU). Sign up early, registration is limited to 100 conferees. Click here for more information.
ASU Modeling Workshops in physics and chemistry
Five Modeling Workshops (June 5-23, June 12-30, July 5-18, 2017) for high school and two-year-college physics, chemistry, and physical science teachers nationwide are offered by Arizona State University in Tempe. Modeling Instruction is designated as an Exemplary STEM program by Change The Equation. The American Physical Society gave it the 2014 Excellence in Physics Education Award. Click here for more information.
Highly Trained STEM Teachers Needed to Boost America's Global Competitiveness, According to New Study
The United States' global competitiveness is at risk as the nation confronts persistent shortages of STEM teachers. More than half of all high school physics teachers lacked certification in the discipline in 2012, for example. As a result, students who are interested in STEM careers find themselves ill prepared to compete in an increasingly highly technical workforce.
A new study by the American Physical Society, in collaboration with the American Chemical Society, Computing Research Association, and Mathematics Teacher Education Partnership, addresses the reasons why STEM students shy away from teaching as a career and offers ways to counter the trend. Download the full report at www.aps.org/policy/reports.
Integrating Computational Physics into Undergraduate Programs Workshop July 2017
The Partnership for Integration of Computation into Undergraduate Physics (PICUP), through NSF funding, is conducting a 5-day workshop on integrating computational activities into undergraduate physics courses. The purpose of the workshop is to guide individual faculty, or teams of faculty from individual departments, in developing computational learning objectives, computational activities that match the learning objectives, and a complete practical strategy for integrating their chosen computational activities into their upcoming courses. We also provide comprehensive post-workshop support for the participants and their respective departments.
The workshop is scheduled for July 10-14, 2017, and will be held on the campus of the University of Wisconsin at River Falls. The only cost to faculty is round trip travel to the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport. A small number of travel scholarships are available for those who can demonstrate little or no departmental/institutional support for travel.
We encourage you to share this announcement with your colleagues, and to take advantage of this transformative workshop by participating yourself, or better yet, as a team of two or more faculty from your department. For more information on the PICUP workshop, and to submit an application to participate, go to www.compadre.org/PICUP. Please note that the priority deadline for applications is April 15, 2017; so please apply soon!
ACT's Annual Nationwide STEM Report
ACT's STEM report, "The Condition of STEM 2016" was released on November 17, 2016. Nearly half (48 percent) of the 2.1 million 2016 American high school graduates who took the ACT test expressed an interest in STEM majors or careers, the report found. However, only 26 percent of those 1 million STEM-interested graduates met or surpassed the ACT College Readiness Benchmark in STEM. The benchmark is an indicator of whether a student is well prepared for first-year courses such as calculus, biology, chemistry and physics, which are typically required for a college STEM-related major. These findings are virtually unchanged from last year, the report found. Interest in teaching STEM subject areas continues to be alarmingly low. Less than 1 percent of the nearly 2.1 million 2016 graduates who took the ACT indicated an interest in teaching math or science.
Download the nationwide report here.
You can download each STATE report here.
NOTE: The states with highest percentages of graduates who met or surpassed the ACT College Readiness Benchmark in STEM are New England states and New York; the worst percentages are in southern rural states, plus Nevada, Hawaii, New Mexico, and West Virginia.
Active Learning in Introductory Physics Courses: Research-Based Strategies that Improve Student Learning
July 29-31, 2017, Portland, Oregon
Designed for those who teach introductory physics at universities, colleges and high schools. Graduate credit will be available through the University of Oregon. Instructors: Priscilla Laws, Dickinson College, David Sokoloff, University of Oregon, Ronald Thornton, Tufts University.
For more information and to register: pages.uoregon.edu/sokoloff/CHAUT
Workshop on Women and Minorities in the History of Physics, Role Models for Today
Dr. Greg Good, Director of the Center for the History of Physics, is eager to provide workshops at AAPT Section Meetings and elsewhere on Women and Minorities in the History of Physics. Teachers will be introduced to the teaching materials on the AIP website related to the history of women and minorities in the physical sciences. The purpose of these materials is to help students appreciate that not only white males have contributed to the development of physics, astronomy, and other physical sciences. On the flip side, there have been many more women than Marie Curie and many more African Americans than Benjamin Banneker and Jim Gates who have had successful careers in the physical sciences. We will explore several of the lesson plans in each group and explore games and other activities to bring these lessons to life. For more information, please contact Dr. Greg Good.
Celebrate the OSA Centennial with the Explore Optics Kit and Free Lesson Plans
Join The Optical Society (OSA) in celebrating its centennial with a number of new resources to bring the wonder of light and color to students of all ages. The Explore Optics OSA 100 Kit provides a unique collection of resources to help students investigate geometric optics with a Pepper's Ghost apparatus, a Reflect View screen, and an Invisibility Kit. The kit is available for purchase at an over 50% discount to teachers for a limited time. Access free lessons from the OSA's Kit Activity Guide and check out the collaborative AAPT/OSA lesson templates inspired by articles from The Physics Teacher journal. Learn more at the AAPT K-12 blog.
ALPhA Announcements
1. Barbara Wolff-Reichert Grants will provide up to $7,500, with a 50% departmental match, toward the purchase of a TeachSpin instrument successfully mastered by a participant in an ALPhA Immersion. Read more.
2. ALPhA Mining Actualization Grants were created by the Jonathan Reichert Foundation to underwrite the construction, testing and dissemination of advanced lab experiments that are closely related to current research in physics. These are first come, first serve equipment grants with a maximum of $2,000 per school. Apply now!
3. The Jonathan Reichert Foundation announced the recipients of its inaugural grant program, supporting the advanced laboratory physics association (ALPhA) immersions. This year, the Foundation funded twelve out of sixteen applications, with a total funding of about $38,000. Congratulations to the individuals and institutions who received grants for advanced labs! Read more.
American Modeling Teachers Association
Modeling Instruction was developed for high school physics teachers and has since expanded to physical science, chemistry, biology, and middle school. Each year, Modeling workshops are held at universities and high schools across the United States. Last year, more than 70 Modeling workshops were offered to high school and middle school teachers in more than 20 states.
For information on 2017 Modeling Workshops, please visit the American Modeling Teachers Association (AMTA) website: modelinginstruction.org For questions: wendy@modelinginstruction.org or gheheman@asu.edu
Physics Careers
Jobs Announcements from the Career Center
Assistant Director for Teaching and Learning
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Click here for job description
Physics, 10 month Faculty, PRIN
College of Southern Maryland
Click here for job description
More Physics Resources
Social Media @ AAPT
AAPT wants to connect with you on social media! Stay abreast of the latest AAPT and physics-related news. We invite you to like us, follow us, connect with us, and pin us. You can find us here:
Section News
Please submit your Section Report for the AAPT Section News. To list your section meeting in the AAPT Calendar of Events, e-mail the information to mhall@aapt.org. See the December 2016 Section News.
Section Meetings
Southern California Section
Apr 8, 2017 - Apr 8, 2017
Spring Meeting
Loyola Marymount University
Los Angeles, CA
Email: Jeff Phillips
Michigan Section
Apr 8, 2017 - Apr 8, 2017
Spring Meeting
Lawrence Technological University
Southfield, MI
Email: David Shane
Indiana Section
Apr 21, 2017 - Apr 22, 2017
Spring Meeting
University of Indianapolis - Martin Hall
Indianapolis, IN
Email: Dan Beeker
Central Pennsylvania Section
Apr 21, 2017 - Apr 22, 2017
AAPT CPS Conference and PTRA Workshop
University of Scranton
Scranton, PA
Email: Nicholas P. Truncale (Conf. Organizer) or Dave McCachren (Workshop Organizer)
Chesapeake Section
Apr 22, 2017 - Apr 22, 2017
Spring Meeting - Joint Chesapeake/Appalachian & 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Concord University
Athens, WV
Email: Rachele Dominguez
Appalachian Section
Apr 22, 2017 - Apr 22, 2017
Spring Meeting - Joint Chesapeake/Appalachian & 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Concord University
Athens, WV
Email: Rachele Dominguez
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